Linking virtual storage to integrated servers

Integrated servers can only access virtual storage that is linked to the Network Server Description (NWSD) for the server.

You must create the virtual storage before you can link it. See Creating virtual storage for integrated servers. After you create and link the virtual storage, it appears as a new hard disk drive to the integrated server. Then you must format it before you can use it.

Note: Virtual storage can be dynamically linked to a server while the server is active.

To link virtual storage to an integrated server, follow these steps:

  1. If you are not linking a disk drive dynamically, then shut down your integrated server. See Stopping integrated servers.
  2. Select Integrated Server Administration from IBM Navigator for i.
  3. Select All Virtual Storage.
  4. Click the menu icon for an available virtual storage and select Add Link.
  5. Select the server you want to link the disk to.
  6. Select one of the available link types and the link sequence position.
  7. Select one of the available storage paths.
  8. Select one of the available data access types.
  9. Click OK.
  10. Start the integrated server. See Starting integrated servers.
  11. When the server is started, format the virtual storage. You can use the utilities provided by the integrated server operating system. See Formatting virtual storage.
Tip: If you want to use a CL command, see:

Managing disk drives for Windows when running out of drive letters

The maximum number of virtual disk drives (virtual storage) that can be linked to an integrated server is greater than the number of drive letters that are available on Windows. Since not all drives will have a drive letter, other options must be used to utilize all storage linked to the server. Here are two options to utilize all virtual disk drives which are linked to a server.
  1. A disk drive letter can be made up of multiple disk drives using a spanned volume set.
    Note: When you create a volume set, all of the existing data on the partitions that you use for the new volume set is erased. You should consider volume sets while you are setting up your server.
    1. From Disk Management, right-click each disk drive number and select Upgrade to Dynamic Disk... from pop-up menu.
    2. Right-click a disk drive partition and select Create Volume... from pop-up menu.
    3. Follow the create volume wizard to create a spanned volume, making sure to add the multiple disks.
      Note: This feature is nice because if the volume gets full, a disk can be dynamically added, and it will be immediately joined to the spanned volume without ever requiring to reboot the server.
  2. A disk drive can be mounted over a subdirectory of an existing disk drive letter.
    1. Create a directory on a disk drive letter that is formatted with NTFS. For example, MD C:\MOUNT1.
    2. From Disk Management, click over disk drive partition you want to format and select Format from the pop-up menu.
    3. Once drive is formatted, right-click over disk drive partition again and select Change Drive Letter and Path... from pop-up menu.
    4. Select Add.
    5. Select radio button Mount in this NTFS folder:
    6. Use Browse button to find directory C:\MOUNT1 that was created in step 1.
    7. Click OK to make that directory a mount point for this disk drive.